The Association of Illustrators (AOI), in partnership with the Directory of Illustration, has officially revealed the winners of the World Illustration Awards 2025 (WIA). This year’s edition received an impressive 4,700 entries from 85 countries, with an independent jury selecting 200 finalists and awarding 20 Category Winners, 20 Highly Commended projects, four Cross-Category Awards, and two Overall Winners.
The online ceremony, held on 16 September 2025, celebrated the very best in contemporary illustration, spanning advertising, animation, books, children’s publishing, design, editorial, exploration, publishing, site-specific projects, and science & technology.
The Overall New Talent Winner was Léane Ruggli with Ready To Drink Cocktail Cans, a playful design that transformed everyday packaging into an artistic invitation to connect. The Overall Professional Winner was Chu-Chieh Lee with Minus Plus Multiply, a beautifully animated exploration of balance and human ties.
New Talent Advertising, Cheuk Lam Siu — The Sound of Cinema
Professional Advertising, Raafaye Ali Sheikh — Gaza Cola: The Taste of Freedom
New Talent Animation, Ti Xu — Snow Bird
Professional Animation, Chu-Chieh Lee — Minus Plus Multiply
New Talent Book Covers, Jae Kwak — Puddle Jumpers
Professional Book Covers, Jennifer Dionisio — Vintage Classics: The Talented Mr Ripley
New Talent Children’s Publishing, Ping An Shih — Tai Chi
Professional Children’s Publishing, Camila Carrossine — The Girl, the Ghost and the Beetroot Forest
New Talent Design, Product & Packaging, Léane Ruggli — Ready To Drink Cocktail Cans
Professional Design, Product & Packaging, Eija Vehviainen — Packaging for Valio Grandi Juices
AOI CEO Rachel Hill remarked: “This year’s entries highlight the power of illustration to help us explore and understand the world around us. Artists tackled themes like human connection, the celebration of diversity and inclusion, and the growing impact of AI on our daily lives.”
Editorial, Lisa Sheehan — The Ozempic Effect
New Talent Editorial, Owolawi Kehinde — These Were Nigeria’s Brightest Teenagers
New Talent Exploration, Guess Who Studio — Cinema Escape
Professional Exploration, Genre Sun — Bridging Two Worlds
New Talent Publishing, Aya Niv — How To Stop Hating Men
Professional Publishing, Büro Wünsch & Stömer — Schwellenangst
New Talent Site-Specific, Ren Kyles — Pride Mural
Professional Site-Specific, Priscilla Tey — It Takes A Village
New Talent Science & Technology, Zen2001 — Shimmering Lake
Professional Science & Technology, Lynn Hatzius — Psychology Textbook
Altogether, the WIA 2025 awards highlight how illustration continues to shape culture, communication, and connection across industries. The winning projects are now live on the WIA website, featuring artwork, interviews, and insights from the global illustration community.
Looking forward, the next edition of the World Illustration Awards will open for submissions in December 2025, inviting illustrators worldwide to showcase their vision and creativity.